The answer: Subways, Chase bank branches, and Verizon stores. The before-and-after photos "provide documentation of not only what storefronts have been lost but also what is often lacking in the commercial space’s replacement," the photographers tell Co.Design in an email. "Until you place them side-by-side and really look at the two photos, you cannot get the true sense of loss experienced by the neighborhood." You cannot get the true sense of loss experienced by the neighborhood, until you look at side-by-side photos.

They plan to eventually visit all 225 of the storefronts they photographed between 2001 and 2004 to highlight the character and sense of community that's lost as mom-and-pop outfits like the 2nd Avenue Deli, Casa Nova Pizzeria, and Optimo Cigars fold, often driven out by steep rent increases and replaced by ubiquitous chain retailers, the occasional high-priced cupcake shop, and generic glass-encased condo buildings.

The one bright spot? Ideal Hosiery's signage may be showing the passage of time, but the store itself is still in business, available for all your panty hose needs.

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"True sense of loss..." - I don't get it it. Half the photos shown in this article either show a derelict location either before or after ten years. There is always passage of time for all kind of neighborhoods: some go from gentile to slum, some go from derelict to hip and some go from gentile to mainstream.

Subway & Chase ... okay, not mom & pop.
But some of the others could be mom& pop, just not done in the old cliche mom-N-pop style.
New style doesn't necessarily mean BAD!EVIL!OHNOES!
Resist chicken-littleing change. Change doesn't HAVE to be scary.